Our editorial scoring model
We score each robot on a 1–10 editorial scale across seven weighted dimensions. Until VacuumTested publishes a primary test log for a model, these dimensions reflect documented product capabilities, lineup position, public rating context, and household use-case fit rather than private laboratory measurements.
| Dimension | Weight | What we look at |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning capability | 25% | Documented cleaning system, brush design, floor support, and product positioning. |
| Navigation & mapping | 18% | LiDAR vs camera mapping, multi-floor support, no-go zones, object avoidance. |
| Pet & hair fit | 15% | Documented brush design, pet-oriented features, and self-emptying support. |
| Mopping & self-cleaning | 13% | Mop pressure, scrubbing, dock wash/dry, auto-empty & auto-refill. |
| Battery & coverage | 12% | Published runtime claims, recharge-and-resume support, and intended home size. |
| App & smart features | 9% | Setup ease, scheduling, voice assistant support, reliability. |
| Ownership considerations | 8% | Dock footprint, maintenance requirements, public reliability signals, and parts access. |
Where the data comes from
For each model, we keep source types separate so a product claim is not confused with a VacuumTested measurement:
- Product and manufacturer information — model name, documented features, tier, and intended use cases.
- Retailer snapshots — price, aggregate rating, and review count recorded in our catalog and marked as time-sensitive.
- VacuumTested editorial analysis — an original comparison of feature balance, lineup position, use-case fit, and trade-offs.
- Primary measurements — displayed only when VacuumTested has a dated test log, method, raw notes, and supporting media for that model.
Other publishers may inform our understanding of the category, but we do not copy their wording, images, scores, tables, or unique test numbers into VacuumTested reviews. Our editorial score is original analysis, not a claim that every model was physically tested by us. Always verify time-sensitive product details before deciding.
How a model earns a badge
- Best Overall — highest editorial score with broad catalog use-case coverage.
- Best Value — strong editorial position relative to its recorded price band.
- Best for Pet Hair — catalog features and positioning match pet-hair priorities.
- Best for Hardwood — catalog features and positioning match hard-floor priorities.
- Best Self-Emptying — includes self-emptying support and ranks strongly in its comparison set.
How often we update
- Prices and public ratings: treated as snapshots; each review tells readers to verify the current listing.
- Scores: re-reviewed quarterly and whenever a firmware update or new model shifts the tier.
- Rankings: refreshed whenever a new flagship launches or a price drop changes value leaders.
Read our Editorial Guidelines for how our funding model, corrections, and conflicts of interest are handled.
How VacuumTested scores robot vacuums
VacuumTested is an independent robot vacuum review site that researches and compares robot vacuums for different homes, floors, pets, and budgets.
- Scoring scale
- Editorial score out of 10
- Rubric
- Seven weighted dimensions, published on this page
- Inputs
- Manufacturer specs, public third-party data, long-term owner feedback